Thursday, August 25, 2011

From Melanie's blog we learn that she's a "Writer- hoping to be published one day. Mother- hoping that I'm doing it right. Enjoying the little things: my kids laughter and when they say "luv u mum", the excitement of cracking open a brand new book, that moment in between the previews and when the movie actually starts, the taste of oh-so-yummy swedish berries."

I totally get that...hoping that I'm doing everything right, the cracking sound of the spine on a new book, the silence before a movie starts, and--wait a second. What are Swedish Berries? I think I'm missing out on something yummy!

I'll look into that and let you all know by the end of the interview :)

So Melanie, how long have you been writing?

Since grade 2- my first story was Alvin and the Chipmunks meet Bloody Mary and it was around 100 pages long (yikes!)

(100 pages in second grade? That's sweet! And I love the premise.)

What made you want to write?

I don't really know why I started writing. When I was younger I would make-up stories in my head and act them out (I remember wearing a sheet as a cape and using my mom's jewelry as "magical artifacts"). The stories have never left my head- now I just write them down instead of acting them out.

(That's awesome. It totally reminds me of Joe in The Little Women. Well, all of the girls, but Joe became the writer!)

Do you have any pet peeves while writing?

Getting interrupted is always a big one, but also unavoidable with four little kids. Or knowing I have to stop to make dinner or something but I just don't want to because I'm on such a roll.

(You write before dinner? I totally give you props. That's the worst time at my house.)

If you could sit down and reread any book, which would it be?

Harry Potter- I would reread those when each movie came out. Won't be able to do that anymore (sniff). Actually, I used to reread my books all the time until I got a library card and started reading YA. Now I don't really have time- too much on my TBR list.

Quick, you only have a couple minutes on the internet, which writing blogs/websites would you go to?

(Thanks for sharing! I think I got the links right, but in all reality...it could be an ultimate fail! Let me know if I need to change them.)

If you could meet any author, dead or alive, who would you choose?

Jane Austen. I really want to know if her books are about what I think they're about, or if they go deeper, like some people think. Then again, maybe I don't want to know.

(Wait! People think they go deeper? Hmm. I don't know if I'd want to know either.)

What book are you reading right now and which one do you have lined up to read next?

Right now I'm reading FOREVER by Maggie Stiefvater (so good). Next is THE FAMILY FORTUNE by Laurie Horowitz (but I'm mostly reading that to see another author's modernized version of Jane Austen's PERSUASION since I'm doing it too and don't want mine to be the same).

(I LOVE research reading. And I need to read Forever.)

What's your favorite:

Character: I assume you mean characters that I've read (not my own), so I'll have to go with... haha that's hard! I can't pick one! Okay, the first one I thought of is Mia Thermopolis from THE PRINCESS DIARIES. She's hilarious and charming and I want to be her friend.

Setting: I love the half-fantasy, half-reality of the whole Harry Potter world. I wish I could go to Hogwarts, and learn magic, and meet Harry and everybody, and ride a dragon... okay maybe not that last one.

Thing about writing: I don't know, it just makes me happy. Like after I've spent an hour or two writing and I step away from the computer and I've got this huge smile on my face and I'm practically giddy because I'm in love with what I've just created. That's such a great feeling.

And last, but not least, do you prefer fruity candy or chocolate?

Haha- I knew this one was coming (I've read many of your past interviews). Can I say both? I have a sweet love for mini Mars bars (I think you can only get those in Canada) and a scary obsession with Swedish Berries. Mmm, my mouth is watering just thinking about them.

(Now for the Swedish Berries. These are Swedish Berries!And for all the chocolate lovers. Here's a taste of some mini Mars bars.

Thanks so much, Melanie, for a sweet ending. I enjoyed interviewing you and am lucky to have you as a blogging buddy and a writing friend! Be sure to visit Melanie's blog, Daydreamer to Writer! Right now would be a great time :)

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Have you ever heard of this? If you haven't, or even if you have, you should get on over to Rach's blog to become part of the campaign. It's a great way to meet other writer's and build your online platform. My favorite part is actually the challenges. I love the things Rach comes up with!

Monday, August 22, 2011

Last week was WriteOnCon. If you missed it...shame on you. I mean, go register and check out the awesomeness. It should be posted for a long time :)

I have a TON to catch up on. The week was packed with unexpected things and I fell way behind. But not until I had this experience.

I debated whether or not to post anything in the forums. I knew agents would be lurking and I knew that my MS wasn't 100%. But I also knew that it didn't matter if it wasn't all the way ready. I was looking for a critique, not a deal. So I posted my first 250 words.

And who was the first person to comment? AN AGENT!!! They were fast too. They commented almost instantly.

You know what they said?

"You can cut all of this."

My first reaction. "I SUCK."

I closed my laptop and wanted to throw it. I questioned why I ever decided to write in the first place.

Eventually, meaning a day or two later, I realized something.

I don't suck. I've worked on this thing for months. I've spent all my time and energy writing and revising. And even if I don't ever get it published, the whole experience has gotten me one step closer to where I want to be.

And really, the agent wasn't saying that I suck. What they were really saying was that I started in the wrong place. I just took their advice the wrong way.

So my advice today is to take criticism. Don't let it get you down, though. Not for too long anyway. Turn it around and learn from it. You know the saying, "No pain no gain?" Well, it was painful for me to hear that my first 250 words were worth cutting. But after I read over it a few times, I realized the agent was right. It was boring and definitely not needed.

And my beginning is that much better now. Maybe not perfect but certainly one step closer to awesome!

I won't, but I understand 100% :) Enough fun facts, though, lets get on with the interview. She is a writer after all.

Jeigh, how long have you been writing?

Ahh, the eternal question…I always wanted to be an author. I was the nerdy kid asking for extra time on creative writing assignments all through school so I could make them ten pages longer than required, but then it fell by the wayside. I started seriously writing again about a year and a half ago.

What made you want to write?

I guess the short answer is that it entertains me. I tend to embellish reality with large doses of imagination and that lends itself to a penchant for writing.

Do you have any pet peeves while writing?

This isn’t really something that happens when I write, but since I’ve started writing on a regular basis, I’ve noticed I edit people in my mind when they talk. I rearrange their sentences so they’re more concise, so they’re not passive, so they aren’t full of grammatical errors. It’s good practice.

If you could sit down and reread any book, which would it be?

One book that I was really sad to see end was “I Capture The Castle” by Dodie Smith. It’s beautiful and endearing and hilarious.

(And now its in my TBR pile.)

Quick, you only have a few minutes on the internet, which writing blogs would you visit?

I always check up on Christine at Writer Coaster. She has great posts full of info and the best titles ever.

I also love Juliemybird at Rosewood Pencilbox. She’s so cheery and enthusiastic. They’re awesome!

(Thanks for the links. I'll head over after the interview!)

If you could meet any author, dead or alive, who would you choose?

Gail Carson Levine. Her books inspire my own writing and she’s so darn cute! I’m convinced that she knows so much about woodland creatures because she is, in fact, one herself.

What book are you reading right now and which one do you have lined up to read next?

I’ve recently had a string of pretty mehh books, but I read DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth and the CHAOS WALKING trilogy by Patrick Ness and they were excellent. I have a lot of sequels that I’m raring to read, but they’re not out yet, so I’m up for suggestions. Anyone have any?

(I've hit that same string of mehh...but I absolutely loved Divergent! You like Fantasy? Read the Mistborn series. It'll rock your world. Brandon Sanderson is awesome.)

Do you prefer:

Vampires or Werewolves? Bluuhhhhh

Mountains or Beaches? Ooh, that’s a close one, but I’ll go with the beach.

Mornings or Nights? Nights, definitely.

Dashes or Parenthesis? Parenthesis. I can’t seem to use dashes properly.

And last, but not least, do you prefer fruity candy or chocolate?

You know, I’ve made every effort to love chocolate, but I only like it. (And for some reason, feel ashamed to admit it.) So, fruity candy it is. Wild Berry Skittles, Sour Gummy Lifesavers, Swedish Fish…ah, yes, fruity candy!!

( I had the same chocolate guilt. But it is not allowed here! You said sour? I'm totally there!)

I told you she was cool. Jeigh, thanks so much for answering my questions. It was fun learning more about you! Everyone else, be sure to stop by her blog, WriterBrained. It's fun!

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Man, I've been busy! Where has the summer gone? Is life crazy for everyone or is it just me?

So, here's what I've been up to...

Reading this.

If you like fantasy and haven't read it, get to it! I'm not kidding. Brandon Sanderson has created a mix of compelling character's, fantastic world building, intense conflict, and a heightened climax all in an epic fantasy. Who cares about falling ash and night time mist when you have a little magic. You don't want to miss it!

I've also been busy with the final rewrite of my book. Yes, there will be one more read through and edit, but I'm so close! I can feel the end...but it's still so far. This whole revision process is killing me. I just want to sit down and write another book. That's why I tell myself it will come soon!

I've also been busy shopping. Yes, I have a little weakness for deals. And end of summer deals are here. Not to mention the Border's going out of business and everything being on sale. We may or may not have spent too much time and money on one of my favorite things. Books.

Actually, most of them were for the new reader in my family. I just can't pass up on Ramona Quimby, Junie B. Jones, and Amelia Bedelia. I'm so excited for her to read them! And I also snagged a few BOB books for my preschooler's!

Yay for books :)

I hope you all have a fabulous week! Don't forget WriteOnCon next week. Head on over now to get in on the early excitement.

Friday, August 5, 2011

What does she do? From her awesome blog, she tells us that she's "Creating adventures out of everyday life."

Isn't that what we're all doing? Don't you get your ideas from life itself? I sure do! Let's learn more about Mel and her journey.

Mel, how long have you been writing?

I started writing the summer of 2007, but only recently started to call myself a writer.

So, what made you want to write?

Boredom. Yes, that's what I said, boredom. I was the cook at an archaeology field school and we lived in the middle of nowhere for 2 months and I didn't have anything to do. So I started writing a book about a game that my sister's and I used to play when we were young.

(That's great. I wish I would've started writing when I was bored. I had to wait until I was super busy to find that passion.)

If you could pick the setting of one book to live in, which would it be?

I really like books with older settings. Like the book Dealing With Dragons or Goose Girl. I would enjoy living in any old style setting as long as there was magic in that world.

Thanks so much, Mel, for being on my blog today! It's good to be interviewing fellow writer's again. Thanks everyone for stopping by to learn more about Mel. Don't forget to hop on over to her blog,Adventure Writes.

Michelle Merrill

I'm a wife to the best husband and a mother to the cutest kids. I absolutely love to watch old movies, eat anything sweet, and play my music way too loud. My newest novel SUMMONED (Granted #2) is now available on Amazon. Don't miss my other books: GRANTED, CHANGING FATE, and short story TRAPPED (Granted Prequel).

TRAPPED

Click to find on Amazon

GRANTED

Click to find on Amazon

SUMMONED

Click to find on Amazon

Changing Fate

Click image to find on Amazon!

Contact

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What do I write?

I love anything and everything about YA fiction. But wait! I'm also getting into more MG. So, between the two, that's what I write, read, write, and read some more. I write mostly urban fantasy, fantasy, contemporary, contemporary fantasy...you can see where this is going. One of my favorite things is to lose track of time while I write. If I'm caught up in the story, hopefully my reader's will be too!